No dispute with Punjab over 50 years of celebrations : Haryana CM Khattar

Chandigarh: Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar today clarified that there was no hard feelings with Punjab over the golden jubilee celebrations of Haryana and Punjab creation on the same day.

Khattar said every state had a right to celebrate its formation and showcase its achievements.

Haryana which was carved out as a separate state from Punjab on November 1, 1966, shares a legacy of problems, including claim over Chandigarh, joint capital of Punjab and Haryana, SYL waters issue and the Hindi-speaking areas.

While Haryana has planned a grand year-long celebrations, which will be kicked off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Gurugram tomorrow, Punjab is holding ‘parallel’ celebrations at Amritsar tomorrow.

Initially Punjab, ruled by the SAD-BJP combine, was keen to invite Modi for the celebrations. However, the BJP Government in Haryana apparently prevailed over the Prime Minister with the result that now BJP chief Amit Shah and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley would represent the BJP and the Central Government at the Amritsar function.

The SAD and the BJP are jointly fighting the Assembly elections in Punjab scheduled for February next year.